Automatic knot-forming machine for the formation of the fisher{3 s knot

ABSTRACT

In a knot-making machine, of the kind which is adapted to make a so-called fisher&#39;&#39;s knot, the improvement is disclosed, which consists in that the thread-crossing members (known per se) are, each, made in two parts. Of these, one is mechanically connected to the driving cam (a conventional member of such machines) and the other portion is pivotally connected to the first-named part and is held, by resilient means, adherent to an abutment which is an integral part of said first portion of the crossing member. This second part is allowed to rotate relative to the first part in a direction of rotation only and has an abutment which can contact a similar abutment mounted on the machine frame in an adjustable fashion. By so doing, it is possible to adapt the operation of the machine to suit a wide range of different yarns so that it is no longer necessary to use different kinds of knotmaking machines for different kinds of threads to be knotted on automatic spoolers.

United States Patent Messa Jan. 21, 1975 KNOT [75] Inventor: Pietro Messa, Salo, Italy [73] Assignee: Mesdan di Messa Pietro, Salo (Brescia), Italy 22 Filed: June 5,1974

[21] Appl.No.:476,72l

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 8, 1973 Italy 50605/73 [52] US. Cl. 289/2 [51] Int. Cl A0ld 59/04 [58] Field of Search 289/2 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,166,346 1/1965 Gotz 289/2 3,298,726 1/1967 Francis 289/2 3,360,289 l2/l967 Wain 289/2 3,734,285 5/l973 Messa 289/2 Primary Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt Attorney, Agent, or FirmWaters, Roditi, Schwartz 8: Nissen [57] ABSTRACT In a knot-making machine, of the kind which is adapted to make a so-called fishers knot, the improvement is disclosed, which consists in that the thread-crossing members (known per sc) are, each, made in two parts. Of these, one is mechanically connected to the driving cam (a conventional member of such machines) and the other portion is pivotally connected to the first-named part and is held. by resilient means, adherent to an abutment which is an integral part of said first portion of the crossing member, This second part is allowed to rotate relative to the first part in a direction of rotation only and has an abutment which can contact a similar abutment mounted on the machine frame in an adjustable fashion. By so doing, it is possible to adapt the operation of the machine to suit a wide range of different yarns so that it is no longer necessary to use different kinds of knotmaking machines for different kinds of threads to be knotted on automatic spoolers.

5 Claims, l4 Drawing Figures PATENTEB JAIIZI I975 SHEEI 10F 9 PATENTEUJANZI m5 3.861.725

SHEET 30! 9 PATENTEI] JANZ! I975 SHEEI 5 OF 9 AUTOMATIC KNOT-FORMING MACHINE FOR THE FORMATION OF THE FISHERS KNOT This invention relates to the automatic knot-forming machines for the formation of the fishers knot, as they are commonly employed on the spoolers for the knotting of the threads to be spooled.

It is known that the fishers knot is formed by two individual knots, each of which is formed with the end of one of the threads and the other thread passing therethrough. To obtain a finished fishers knot, the two individual knots must be united and locked together: to this end, while the tails of the individual knots are firmly held together, the two threads should be pulled in opposite directions along a length which is variable consistently with the kind of thread to be knotted.

In order automatically to carry out this sequence of steps, the knot-making machines are equipped with a few principal members which are mechanically connected with each other and are driven by a driving shaft so as to move in attunement. These principal members essential comprise thread-latching members which are introduced in the machine in a substantially parallel arrangement, crossing members and tensioning members for the threads and hooks, which are rotated in counter-position and each of which has a pair of shears for cutting the thread and holding the tails thereof. A cylindrical cam mounted on the drive shaft originates the swinging movements of the crossing members, while the rotation of the hooks is obtained by means of gears for transfering the drive.

One of the problems in connection with such automatic knot-forming machines is the restricted knotting capability of same. As a matter of fact, to be able to knot a complete range of threads which are normally spooled on automatic spoolers, it is necessary, at present, to change different types of knot-making machines which are mainly distinguished for the different outline of the driving cam for the crossing elements, whose task, inter alia, is to tighten and close the fishers knot by providing to the union and the locking of the two individual knots as formed beforehand.

The selection of the kind of knot forming machines which is most adapted for a certain thread, is somewhat difficult since it is required not only to take into account the threads count, but also the considerable variations as determined by the different compositions, both quantitative and qualitative. Thus, the selection of the kind of knot-forming machine is left to the experience and the judgement of the technically skilled people.

in view of this problem, the present invention aims at providing an automatic knot-forming machine for fishers knot having an improved knot-forming capacity so as to permit its use for the complete range of threads as usually spooled on automatic spoolers.

More particularly, the invention has the object of improving the knot-forming machines of conventional types so as to enable the crossing elements, during the stage of tensioning and closure of the formed fishers knot, to perform oscillatory motions of variable amplitude within a certain range without changing the profile of the cam which controls said movements.

This invention achieves the specified purposes with a knot-forming machine of the kind referred to above, which is characterized in that each crossing element consists of two portions, one of which is dynamically coupled to the respective control cam and the other is pivoted to the former and elastically held adherent to an abutment which is integral with the former portion, with possibility of rotation with respect thereto in a rotation direction only, said second portion being intended to be active on the respective thread and being equipped with an abutment which is adapted to come into contact with a ledge, the latter being mounted in an adjustable manner and easily accessible on the knotforming machine, starting from a preselected amplitude of oscillation of the former portion as controlled by the respective cam, so that with the further oscillation of the former portion, the second one, by exerting a leverage action with its abutment on said ledge is caused to be rotated relatively to the former portion through an angle which is a function of the portion at which the ledge gas been mounted.

By so doing, it becomes possible, in the stage of tensioning and closure of the fisher's knot, to have the second portion of the crossing member an oscillation whose minimum amplitude equals that of the first portion (as defined by the outline of the driving cam) if the ledge is adjusted to such a position that the abutment of the second portion cannot come into contact therewith, or, as an alternative, an oscillation having an amplitude wider than that of the first portion if the ledge is adjusted at such a position that the abutment of the second portion may come into contact therewith. The increase of the oscillation width of the second portion of the crossing member is obviously a function of the position of the ledge, that is, of the moment or oscillation angle of the former portion starting from which the abutment of the second portion is in contact with the adjustable ledge.

It is now apparent that by a simple adjustment of the ledge it becomes possible to adapt the knot-forming machine according to the invention to the different requirements of the threads to be knotted.

It should be observed, at this stage, that also the knotforming machine according to the invention, as well as those conventionally known today, can be equipped with a plurality of rotary hooks which can easily be re placed to adapt it still better to the several kinds of threads to be knotted.

The features, objects and advantages of the automatic knot-making machine improved according to the present invention will become apparent in more detail from the ensuing description of an exemplary embodiment, which is non-limiting, as given with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I shows the knot-forming machine in front view.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the machine.

FIG. 3 shows the same machine as viewed from the left side.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 shows the development of the control cam for the crossing members.

FIGS. 8 to 12 diagrammatically show the knotforming machine in plan view in the subsequent operative stages for the formation of the fishers knot, and

FIGS. 13 and 14 show the fishers knot in formation and finished, respectively.

in the following, there will be described for the knotforming machine, only those component parts which are essential for the understanding of the operation, being it understood that all the remaining component parts which are not specifically indicated are made, as to their structure and operation, according to the conventional art.

The machine comprises a framing l, which is closed at the left side by a plate 2 and at the right side by a plate 3. To the framing I there are affixed two supporting members 4 and 5 for the front rotary hook 6 and the rear rotary hook, respectively.

In bearings 8 and 9 of the framing 1 there is rotatably journalled a horizontal shaft 10 which, externally of the framing l, carries a member 11 which is adapted to receive a rotary drive from a control (not shown) of the spooler on which the knot-forming machine is intended to be installed.

On the shaft 10 there are mounted, internally to the framing 1, two gears 12 and 13, which, through intermediate gears 14 and 15, actuate the gears 16 and 17, the latter being integral, with the shafts l8, l9, respectively, of the front and rear rotary hooks 6 and 7. Each of these hooks comprise, in a conventional way, a shear composed by a fixed part 20 and a swinging part 21, the latter being mounted between the fixed part 20 and the hook and being swingably driven by the engagement of one of its tail portions with an eccentric cavity 22 as formed through the respective supporting member 4, or 5 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

Between the two gears 12 and 13 as mounted on the control shaft 10 and the gears l6, 17 as mounted on the shafts of the rotary hooks there is a drive transfer ratio of 1:2, that is, a complete revolution of the shaft 10 is equivalent to two revolutions of the shafts 18 and 19.

On the central portion of the shaft 10 a cylindrical cam 23 is mounted, which has two profiled peripheral grooves 24 and 25, whose outlines can better be seen, developed, on the plane of the sheet of drawing of FIG. 7.

With the profiled grooves 24 and 25 there are, in mutual engagement, followers 26 and 27 as carried by the free ends of two levers 28 and 29 as mounted for oscillation about the same axis on the plate 2 internally of the framing 1. More exactly, the lever 28 is mounted integrally with a pin 30 and the lever 29 is mounted integrally with a bushing 31 which is arranged coaxially about the pin 30 and rotatable in a fixed bushing 32, the latter being mounted in a bore of the plate 2 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

Outside the framing 1 there are affixed to the pin 30 and the bushing 31, respectively, the front and the rear crossing member, as generally indicated at 33 and 34.

According to the invention, each of these crossing members is formed by two portions 35, 36 and 37, 38, respectively, of which the portions and 37 are affixed to the pin 30 and the bushing 31, respectively, whereas the portions 36 and 38 are pivoted to the former portions 35 and 37 by pins 39 and 40. The portions 36 and 38 are intended, with their hook-shaped free ends, to act upon the threads to be knotted and, by means of springs 41, 42 a tail portion of them is held adherent to a stop pin 43, 44 integral with the former portion 35, 37 (see FIG. 3). Against the boast of the respective spring 4], 42, the portions 36, 38 can be rotated about the respective pivots 39, in a rotation direction only, and this in the sense of removing their tail portions from the stop pins 43, 44.

The parts 36, 38 of the crossing members, in addition, carry, each, an abutment pin 45, 46 which is adapted to contact an abutment member 47, which, by means of parallel slots 48, 49 and 63, 64, is mounted on pivots 50, 51, and 65, 66 projecting externally of the plate 2. The pins 50, 51 are screw-threaded and serve to lock the member 47 by means of nuts and washers, whereas the pins 65, 66 merely serve as guides and for adjusting the member 47 which carries, in correspondence with the slots 63, 64, special reference marks, as in FIG. 3.

Overlying the framing 1 there is a supporting member 52 in the form of an inverted L" which, at its free end, on the left side of the machine, carries a spring-biased clamp 53 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3), which is adapted to grip the threads to be knotted together in cooperation with a bar 54 as carried by a stirrup 55 which can he oscillated about coaxial pins 56, S7. A spring (not shown) maintains said stirrup in a depressed position, while a cam control 58 with levers 59 is adapted to lift the stirrup 55 to bring the bar 54 into contact with the clamp 53.

The machine is equipped, in addition, with the con ventional shaped guides for correctly positioning the two threads to be knotted and a pincers for the free ends of the two threads, adapted to hold these ends without hindering their sliding during the knotting step. These guides and pincers are not described in detail since their function is well known.

It should be observed, in addition, that the plate 2 which closes the left side of the machine and carries the crossing members 33, 34 has a window 60 through which the upper curled end of the portions 36, 38 of said members enters into the interior of the framing I (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

The operation of the knot-making machine as described above for the formation of a fishers knot is illustrated in the following with particular reference to FIGS. 8 l2 which show several subsequent stages of the knotting operation.

The two threads to be knotted, 6] and 62 are introduced in the machine as shown in FIG. 8 so that their free ends are directed towards the right side where they are held by the pincers which, however, do not hinder their sliding. The threads are passed over the shanks of the rotary hooks so that they cannot be sheared during the first revolution thereof.

On starting the rotation of the control shaft l0, the cam 58 causes the lifting of the stirrup 5S and thus the locking of the twothreads between the clamp 53 and the bar 54 on the left side of the machine. The crossing members 33, 34, whose parts 35, 36 and 37, 38 are rotated integrally in this stage by the levers 28, 29 as driven by the grooves 24, 25 of the cam 23, providing to cross the two threads before they contact the rotary hooks 6, 7 (see FIG. 9). it should be noticed that the two threads are crossed twice: once between the locking clamp 53 and the crossing members 33, 34 and the second time between the latter members and the passage points above the shanks of the rotary hooks. The specially provided hooks at the ends of the crossing members hold the two threads hooked.

in the further rotation of the driving shaft 10, the crossing members after a slight approaching remain very much in the position they have reached (see the substantially rectilinear portion of the grooves 24, 25 of the cam 23 in FIG. 7), whereas the hooks 6, 7 continue to be rotated and thus complete their first revolution and exhibit their shears open (FIG. 10). As the rotation is continued, the shears are closed and sever the free ends of the two threads, whereas the tails of two individual knots in formation are firmly held between the oscillatory portions 21 of the shears and the hooks (the whole in quite conventional a way).

With the further rotation of the hooks and with the tails still firmly held, the loops forming the individual knots are made up (as shown in FIG. 13) which are subsequently cleared of the hooks as shown in FIG. 11. During this stage the crossing members start their rotation movement in the sense of being set apart from one another for the union and fastening of the two individual knots. This is the stage where the abutments 45 and 46 of the portions 36 and 38 of the crossing members can come into contact with the abutment ledge 47 which is approximately positioned according to the characteristics of the threads to be knotted. As a matter of fact, while the portions 35, 37 of the crossing members closely follow the movement as imparted thereto by grooves 24, 25 of the cam 23, the portions 36, 38 by acting as levers with the abutments 45, 46 against the ledge 47, are rotated with respect to the portions 35, 37 so that their ends which hold hooked the threads 61, 62 are farther spread apart from one another (see FIG. 12) and efficiently tighten the asformed knot (see also FIG. 14) with the tension which is required for the thread being used. Meanwhile, the two rotary hooks have set free the tails of the two individual knots.

In the last stage of the operative cycle all the members of the machine are returned to their initial positions, the stirrup 55 is depressed and sets free the knotted threads which are cleared of the component parts of the knot-forming machine.

From that which has been illustrated above, it is apparent that with the apparatus improved according to the invention, it becomes possible, by merely adjusting the abutment member, to keep into account the variable features of the yarns to be knotted, concurrently ensuring in any case the perfect performance, with the most suitable tension, of the fishers knot, without any risk of yarn breakages due to an exceedingly high tension, or an insufficiency of the tightening of the knot.

It is apparent that the practical performance of the novel basic ideas of the invention can have a number of modifications which can easily be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Thus, for example, the abutment member 47, which, in the example shown is a single V-shaped piece, with two inclined planes each of which is intended to cooperate with the abutment of one of the crossing members, could also be made in two pieces to be separately adjusted, and its shape could anyhow be modified. Also the adjustment and locking means for the abutment member could be embodied differently so as to facilitate and to simplify to the utmost the adjustment of the machine.

What is claimed is:

I. An automatic knot-making machine for the formation of the fishers knot, more particularly intended to be mounted on an automatic spooler, comprising lock ing members for the threads to be knotted, crossing members and tensioning members for the threads and confrontingly mounted rotary hooks equipped with shears for severing the threads and holding the tails thereof, said crossing members being driven by a cam keyed to a driving shaft to perform oscillatory movements, characterized in that adjustable means are pro vided for modifying the width of the oscillatory movements of the crossing members with respect to the width as impressed by said cam.

2. A knot-making machine according to claim I, characterized in that each crossing member is formed by two portions, one of which is mechanically coupled to the respective driving cam and the other is pivoted to the first portion and resiliently held sticking to an abutment which is integral with the first portion, with possibility of rotation with respect thereto in a rotation direction only, said second portion being intended to act upon the respective thread and being equipped with an abutment which is adapted to contact an adjustable ledge starting from a predetermined oscillation width of the first portion as controlled by the respective cam.

3. A knot-making machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the ledge is a single plate which has two discrete surfaces, each of which is intended to cooperate with the abutment of a crossing memberv 4. A knot-making machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the plate is mounted outside the closure plate of the machine, which carries the crossing members, adjustment and locking means being provided for positioning said ledge plate on said closure plate.

5. A knot-making machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the adjustment and locking means are pins projecting from the machine sidewall and which are passed through slots parallel to the ledge plate, at least two pins being screw-threaded and adapted to receive locking nuts, reference marks being further provided in correspondence with at least one of the slots for adjusting the position of the ledge plate on the sidewall. 

1. An automatic knot-making machine for the formation of the fisher''s knot, more particularly intended to be mounted on an automatic spooler, comprising locking members for the threads to be knotted, crossing members and tensioning members for the threads and confrontingly mounted rotary hooks equipped with shears for severing the threads and holding the tails thereof, said crossing members being driven by a cam keyed to a driving shaft to perform oscillatory movements, characterized in that adjustable means are provided for modifying the width of the oscillatory movements of the crossing members with respect to the width as impressed by said cam.
 2. A knot-making machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each crossing member is formed by two portions, one of which is mechanically coupled to the respective driving cam and the other is pivoted to the first portion and resiliently held sticking to an abutment which is integral with the first portion, with possibility of rotation with respect thereto in a rotation direction only, said second portion being intended to act upon the respective thread and being equipped with an abutment which is adapted to contact an adjustable ledge starting from a predetermined oscillation width of the first portion as controlled by the respective cam.
 3. A knot-making machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the ledge is a single plate which has two discrete surfaces, each of which is intended to cooperate with the abutment of a crossing member.
 4. A knot-making machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the plate is mounted outside the closure plate of the machine, which carries the crossing members, adjustment and locking means being provided for positioning said ledge plate on said closure plate.
 5. A knot-making machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the adjustment and locking means are pins projecting from the machine sidewall and which are passed through slots parallel to the ledge plate, at least two pins being screw-threaded and adapted to receive locking nuts, reference marks being further provided in correspondence with at least one of the slots for adjusting the position of the ledge plate on the sidewall. 